Ever wondered how you could earn a couple hundred bucks quickly? Forget looking for a higher savings rate, look no further than opening a checking account. With extremely generous sign up bonuses available, you could find yourself with an extra $200 or $300. 

What’s even better is the battle to keep your money is just heating up.  As part of financial regulations, banks have to keep a certain amount of cash in deposits.  That’s why some banks could offer even better deals in the future if you begin looking for them.

No Strings Attached

Thinking having $200 or $300 in your pocket is too good to be true? Think again. Savvy Americans could absolutely take advantage of these offers without major commitments. In most cases, all you have to do is set up a direct deposit and maintain a small balance.

Quick tip: While big banks like Chase and Wells Fargo are offering new bonuses, some of the best bonuses may come from regional banks in your area.  Search in your area now.

What’s Available

How much you can earn by opening a new checking account with a new bank varies, but one thing’s for sure: a new account could bring as much as $500 into your account. Here are a few current checking account offers to consider:

Chase Bank: Open a Chase Total Checking Account, get $200.

You may have already found a “coupon” for this offer in your mailbox, but if you haven’t you can still take advantage of it at your local Chase Bank branch. Your new checking account must be opened in person, and you must deposit a minimum of $25 and set up a direct deposit to receive $200.

HSBC: Open a HSBC Choice Checking or Advance Checking Account, get up to $350.

Get either $200 for opening a Choice Checking Account or $350 for an Advance Checking Account. You can easily open one of these new accounts online, without having to visit a branch. To earn the bonus, you must deposit $1,500 (Choice) or $10,000 (Advantage) and pay the required monthly account fees.

Citibank: Open a Citibank Basic Banking Account, get up to $400.

New Citibank customers can earn a bonus for opening a Basic Banking Account for a limited time. In order to qualify, you must deposit at least $5,000 to receive a $200 bonus or deposit at least $15,000 to get the full $400. You’ll need to maintain a minimum balance of at least your initial deposit for 60 days before your bonus is deposited.

Checking account bonus offers change often — so make sure you look into banks in your area and online in order to see what offers are currently available. Bonus offers can be limited to new account holders, run for a limited time, or may be available only at a physical branch. Make sure you also check the requirements for each bonus you find, as they can include requirements such as deposit minimums, regular direct deposits, and a certain amount of months you’re required to keep your account open.

Where to Start

These current checking account bonuses are only the beginning of what’s available. Nearly every bank, from traditional brick and mortar branches to online, offers some kind of incentive for those interested in opening a new checking account.

From annual interest to cash incentives, there are plenty of different checking account offers out there. And they change often – as banks need more customers and more money, these incentives can grow and become even more appealing. You want to find the biggest cash bonus and the best bank benefits or perks to ensure your next checking account is a good fit for you.

So, if you’re looking for some extra cash from a new bank and a new checking account, you need to search for the best offer you can find. Look online for offers from local banks, national banks, and even internet banks. Compare what they’re giving customers for opening new accounts – and don’t forget to keep looking once you’ve picked a bank. You might find moving your money into a new account comes with even better perks.